What a pre-save link actually does
A pre-save lets a listener save a song or album before it comes out, so it lands in their library on release day. Each service handles this differently. On Spotify, pre-saves happen on a page that Spotify or your distributor provides. On Apple Music, the equivalent is a pre-add, which needs an upcoming release that Apple has already listed. Other services have their own pre-release pages, or none at all.
That is why most artists share one landing page instead of a separate link per service: each listener picks the service they use, and the page sends them to the right pre-save. The problem comes on release day. A pre-save page that stays a pre-save page is a dead end once the music is out, and most people will tap your link after release, not before.
The setup, step by step
Deliver the release early
Upload your release to your distributor with a release date a few weeks away. The earlier the stores have it, the sooner pre-save and pre-add pages exist.
Get your pre-save sources
Collect your distributor’s pre-save page (for example a DistroKid HyperFollow link), a Spotify Countdown Page if your release qualifies, and the Apple Music address of the upcoming release if your distributor set up a pre-order.
Make the page
In listenthru, choose New release and paste the pre-save link or the upcoming Spotify or Apple Music link. Title, artwork and the links that can be found are filled in.
Set the release date
Add the release date. Until that day the page shows when it comes out and the buttons read Pre-save.
Turn on reminders
Switch on the sign-up form so listeners can ask for an email on release day. They can also add the date to their calendar.
Share one link everywhere
Use the same link in your bio, stories, ads and newsletters. Make a tagged copy for each place with the link builder so you can see which one works.
Let release day take care of itself
From release day, listenthru looks the release up on each service every hour and points each pre-save button at the release as soon as it is found.
What happens on release day
Before release day, the buttons on a listenthru page read Pre-save, and links that only work before release — HyperFollow, a Spotify Countdown Page, lnk.to, ffm.to, found.ee or Hypeddit pages — are treated as pre-save links.
From release day, listenthru checks the services’ own catalogs every hour, for two weeks. It looks the release up by its UPC or ISRC when it has one, otherwise by exact title and artist. As soon as a service lists the release, that service’s pre-save link is pointed at the release itself. A service that has not caught up yet keeps its pre-save link and is asked again the next hour.
- Your link does not change, so every post, ad, QR code and email you sent keeps working.
- The counts carry on: visits and clicks before and after release day stay on the same page.
- Links you added yourself that are not pre-save pages are never touched.
Listeners who asked for a reminder get one email on release day, in their own language, with the link to the release.
Apple Music pre-add on the same page
When Apple Music has published the upcoming release, listeners who tap Apple Music on your page can pre-add it to their library right there, after connecting their Apple Music account once. listenthru checks automatically every few hours whether the pre-release page exists. If it does not appear, ask your distributor whether Apple Music pre-order is turned on for the release. More in the Apple Music pre-add guide.
Mistakes that cost pre-saves
- Uploading too late. If the release reaches the stores a few days before it comes out, there is little time for pre-saves. Several weeks gives you room for teasers.
- No release date on the page. Without it, the page cannot know when to switch, and the buttons do not say Pre-save.
- A different link for every post. You lose track of what worked, and old links break. Share one link and tag copies of it instead.
- Only asking once. Most pre-saves come from reminders: a teaser, a snippet, a countdown story, the day before.
How to tell whether it is working
Before release day the dashboard shows pre-adds on Apple Music and release-day email sign-ups since the page was made. Insights show visits, clicks through to each service and where the visits came from. Spotify pre-saves themselves happen on Spotify’s or your distributor’s page, so their counts are in Spotify for Artists or your distributor’s dashboard. See which posts lead to clicks for how to read the sources.
Questions
Do I need a new link on release day?
No. Keep sharing the same link. From release day listenthru points each pre-save button at the release as soon as the service lists it.
Does listenthru do the Spotify pre-save itself?
No. The Spotify pre-save happens on the page Spotify or your distributor provides, which your listenthru page links to. Apple Music pre-add can happen right on the listenthru page when Apple has listed the release.
How early should I make the pre-save link?
As soon as your distributor gives you a pre-save link or the release appears as upcoming on a service. Many artists start four weeks out; earlier is fine.
Is it free?
Yes. A pre-save page is a release page, and the free plan includes up to 3 live releases.